Interactive Brokers vs FXCM Review
To find the top fx brokers, the team here at ForexBrokers.com collected over 6,000 data points during a seven month review of the forex industry. In this fx broker comparison, we will compare FXCM vs Interactive Brokers.
To assess both of these forex brokers, we will begin with cost. Comparing two fx brokers on cost is not easy. First, not every broker publicizes their average spreads. And, for the brokers that do publish their data, the formulas used to calculate average spreads can vary. Furthermore, the currency pair you are trading can impact cost, as well as the execution policies of the broker. Dealing desk or no dealing desk? The list goes on and on. To make comparing cost easy, we have a star rating that takes everything into account. Interactive Brokers is a better option with a 4 star rating over FXCM's 3.5 star rating.
Next to commissions and fees, regulation and currency availability are important to take into consideration. You want to trust and have confidence the forex broker you choose. FXCM and Interactive Brokers both are regulated in a major hub. FXCM alongside Interactive Brokers are publicly traded companies. And, when it comes to total currency pairs available to trade, a quick comparison is helpful. Interactive Brokers boasts an offering of 115 different currency pairs compared to FXCM's 39 available pairs.
To round out our comparison of FXCM vs Interactive Brokers, let's look at the tools and features most used by forex traders. For trading platforms, traders are all familiar with MetaTrader. FXCM has Meta Trader, Interactive Brokers doesn't. With a platform picked out, looking at charts is a must so they should be of high-quality. As part of our research, we count the number of drawing tools and total technical indicators available. Interactive Brokers trails FXCM by 22 total charting tools, with FXCM offering 31 and Interactive Brokers offering 9. FXCM trails Interactive Brokers by 70 total different indicators (for example, moving averages), with Interactive Brokers offering 121 and FXCM offering 51.
Overall, both FXCM and Interactive Brokers are rated 4 stars. And, when it comes to individual category awards, neither FXCM nor Interactive Brokers were rated Best in Class - Platforms & Tools, Best in Class - Research, Best in Class - Customer Service, Best in Class - Active Trading, Best in Class - Mobile Trading and Best in Class - Investor Education.
To assess both of these forex brokers, we will begin with cost. Comparing two fx brokers on cost is not easy. First, not every broker publicizes their average spreads. And, for the brokers that do publish their data, the formulas used to calculate average spreads can vary. Furthermore, the currency pair you are trading can impact cost, as well as the execution policies of the broker. Dealing desk or no dealing desk? The list goes on and on. To make comparing cost easy, we have a star rating that takes everything into account. Interactive Brokers is a better option with a 4 star rating over FXCM's 3.5 star rating.
Next to commissions and fees, regulation and currency availability are important to take into consideration. You want to trust and have confidence the forex broker you choose. FXCM and Interactive Brokers both are regulated in a major hub. FXCM alongside Interactive Brokers are publicly traded companies. And, when it comes to total currency pairs available to trade, a quick comparison is helpful. Interactive Brokers boasts an offering of 115 different currency pairs compared to FXCM's 39 available pairs.
To round out our comparison of FXCM vs Interactive Brokers, let's look at the tools and features most used by forex traders. For trading platforms, traders are all familiar with MetaTrader. FXCM has Meta Trader, Interactive Brokers doesn't. With a platform picked out, looking at charts is a must so they should be of high-quality. As part of our research, we count the number of drawing tools and total technical indicators available. Interactive Brokers trails FXCM by 22 total charting tools, with FXCM offering 31 and Interactive Brokers offering 9. FXCM trails Interactive Brokers by 70 total different indicators (for example, moving averages), with Interactive Brokers offering 121 and FXCM offering 51.
Overall, both FXCM and Interactive Brokers are rated 4 stars. And, when it comes to individual category awards, neither FXCM nor Interactive Brokers were rated Best in Class - Platforms & Tools, Best in Class - Research, Best in Class - Customer Service, Best in Class - Active Trading, Best in Class - Mobile Trading and Best in Class - Investor Education.
% of retail CFD accounts that lose money
Overall
Offering of Investments
Commissions & Fees
Platform & Tools
Customer Service
Research
Mobile Trading
Education
Trust Score
Year Founded
Publicly-Traded Company (Listed)
Regulated in Major Hub
Regulated in Emerging Hub
CFTC Registered (USA)
Authorised in the European Union
FCA Regulated (UK)
FINMA Authorised (Switzerland)
ASIC Authorised (Australia)
MAS Authorised (Singapore)
IIROC Authorised (Canada)
SFC Authorised (Hong Kong)
FSA Authorised (Japan)
CySEC Authorised (Cyprus)
FMA Authorised (New Zealand)
Forex: Spot Trading
Currency Pairs (Total Forex pairs)
CFDs - Total Offered
Cryptocurrency traded as actual
Cryptocurrency traded as CFD
Advantage
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard
Active Trader or Premium/VIP
Advantage
Proprietary
Desktop Platform (Windows)
Web Platform
Social Trading / Copy-Trading
MetaTrader4 (MT4)
MetaTrader5 (MT5)
cTrader
Currenex
ZuluTrade
MirrorTrader
Advantage
Virtual Trading (Demo)
Watchlists - Total Fields
Alerts - Basic Fields
Charting - Trade From Chart
Charts can be saved
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total)
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total)
Charting - Drawings Autosave
Order Type - Trailing Stop
Advantage
Android App
Apple iOS App
Forex News
Alerts - Basic Fields
Alerts Delivery - Push Notifications
Watch List
Watch List Syncing
Charting - Technical Studies/Indicators
Charting - Draw Trend Lines
Advantage
Daily Market Commentary
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources)
AutoChartist
Trading Central (Recognia)
Delkos Research
Social Trading / Copy-Trading
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs
Client Webinars
Client Webinars (Archived)
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos
Economic Calendar
Economic News Sentiment
Advantage
GBPUSD (or USDGBP)
USDJPY (or JPYUSD)
EURUSD (or USDEUR)
USDCHF (or CHFUSD)
USDCAD (or CADUSD)
NZDUSD (or USDNZD)
AUDUSD (or USDAUD)
USDCNH (or CNHUSD)
USDSGD (or SGDUSD)
USDMXN (or MXNUSD)
USDNOK (or NOKUSD)
USDSEK (or SEKUSD)
USDTRY (or TRYUSD)
USDZAR (or ZARUSD)
USDDKK (or DKKUSD)
USDBRL (or BRLUSD)
Minimum Initial Deposit
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw)
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit)
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw)
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw)
UnionPay (Deposit/Withdraw)
Overall
Advantage
Comparing 2 Brokers
Advertiser Disclosure
Advertiser Disclosure
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CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Interactive Brokers
63.5% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
91
1977
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
115
6100
No
Yes
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N/A
N/A
Yes
check_circle
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
300
Yes
Yes
No
9
121
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
68
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
$0
Yes
No
No
No
No
FXCM
74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
80
1999
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
39
24
No
Yes
0.8
1.3
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
check_circle
Yes
7
Yes
Yes
Yes
31
51
Yes
Yes
check_circle
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
30
Yes
check_circle
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
check_circle
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
$0.00
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
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Trading CFDs, FX, and cryptocurrencies involves a high degree of risk. All providers have a percentage of retail investor accounts that lose money when trading CFDs with their company. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money and whether you understand how CFDs, FX, and cryptocurrencies work. All data was obtained from a published web site as of 02/18/2019 and is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed. The ForexBrokers.com staff is constantly working with its online broker representatives to obtain the latest data. If you believe any data listed above is inaccurate, please contact us using the link at the bottom of this page.
